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Wisconsin landlord-tenant law
Checked against the Wisconsin statutes on September 24, 2026 Statutes current through: Statutes through 2025 Wis. Act 247 (orders in effect September 4, 2026); ATCP 134 as last published in Register October 2021 No. 790; selected rent and notice provisions reviewed October 15, 2026 without resetting the wider review General information, not legal advice
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Wisconsin in brief
Wisconsin's landlord-tenant statutes and rental practices code set no cap on security deposits, but the refund, less deductions listed in the law and a written statement of each item withheld, is due within 21 days, usually counted from the lease's termination date. A late fee is allowed only as the rental agreement provides, and an applicant may be charged the actual cost of a credit report, up to $25 (and of a background check, up to $25, only if the applicant lives outside Wisconsin). Give at least 12 hours' notice before entering, 5 days' notice to pay or vacate (30 days under a lease of more than one year), and 28 days' written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy at the end of a rental period. Every lease must carry the statutory notice of domestic abuse protections, and a lease with a banned clause, such as one making the tenant pay the landlord's attorney fees, is void in its entirety.
Key numbers
- Security deposit limit
- No limit
- chapter 704 and the rental practices code set none
- Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.06Wis. Stat. § 704.28
- Deposit refund deadline
- 21 days
- usually after the lease's termination date
- Wis. Stat. § 704.28(4)Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.06(2)
- Notice to pay or vacate
- 5 days
- 30 days under a lease of more than one year
- Wis. Stat. § 704.17(2)(a)Wis. Stat. § 704.17(3)(a)
- Notice to cure a breach
- 5 days
- 30 days under a lease of more than one year
- Wis. Stat. § 704.17(2)(b)Wis. Stat. § 704.17(3)(a)
- Ending a month-to-month tenancy
- 28 days
- written, ending at the end of a rental period
- Wis. Stat. § 704.19(3)
- Notice before entry
- 12 hours
- unless the tenant agrees to less
- Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(2)(a)
Before you sign
Application and screening fees
A landlord may charge a prospective tenant the actual cost of a consumer credit report from a nationwide credit reporting agency, up to $25. Tell the applicant about the charge before you request the report, and give the applicant a copy of it.
Wis. Stat. § 704.085(1)(a) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.05(4)(a)
More detail (5)
- You may not charge for a credit report if, before you request one, the applicant gives you a report from a nationwide agency that is less than 30 days old. Wis. Stat. § 704.085(1)(b) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.05(4)(b)
- A background check fee, also the actual cost up to $25 with the same notice and copy, is allowed only for an applicant who is not a Wisconsin resident. Wis. Stat. § 704.085(2)
- Any other payment for having an application considered is an earnest money deposit. It must be returned in full by the end of the next business day after you reject the application, the applicant withdraws before you accept, or you fail to approve it within 3 business days (or a later date the applicant agrees to in writing, no more than 21 days after you took the deposit). Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.02(3) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.05(2)(a)
- If the approved applicant then declines to sign, you may keep only your actual costs and damages, and lost rent only after reasonable efforts to rerent, unless you significantly changed the terms you had disclosed. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.05(3)
- Local governments may not limit a landlord's use of an applicant's income, occupation, rental history, credit information, public court records or proof of identity, or how far back you may look. Wis. Stat. § 66.0104(2)(a)
On Rentari the landlord pays for tenant screening in Wisconsin, and an applicant pays at most the landlord's own application fee, held to $25. This is Rentari's policy, stricter than state law.
Fair housing
Partly readWisconsin's open housing law bars housing discrimination because of sex, race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, family status, status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking, lawful source of income, age, or ancestry.
Wis. Stat. § 106.50(1) Wis. Stat. § 106.50(1m)(h)
More detail (6)
- Prohibited acts include refusing to rent or negotiate, setting different terms, discriminatory advertising, refusing to renew, evicting or harassing a tenant, and falsely saying a unit is unavailable. Wis. Stat. § 106.50(2)
- Family status includes pregnancy and a household with minor or adult relatives or children in the person's custody or care. Wis. Stat. § 106.50(1m)(k)
- The law extends to owner-occupied single-family homes, subject to exemptions in parts of the law this page did not read. Wis. Stat. § 106.50(1)
- An individually trained work or task animal is protected when the person has a disability and a related need for the animal. The state provision bars housing denial, eviction, harassment or extra compensation because of that qualifying animal. Follow the documentation limits: when the disability is readily apparent or known, request proof of the animal-related need only if that need is not apparent or known. Wis. Stat. 106.50(2r)(bg)1., 2.
- Wisconsin separately protects an emotional support animal for a person with a disability-related need, even though the animal has no task training. The state provision permits reliable disability and need documentation from a licensed health professional, defined here as a professional licensed or certified in Wisconsin and acting within that credential's scope. The qualifying animal cannot be the reason for extra compensation, eviction, harassment or housing denial. Wis. Stat. 106.50(1m)(im), (mx), (2r)(br)1., 2.
- The state animal provisions list grounds for refusal, including no qualifying disability or need, failure to provide properly requested documentation, undue financial and administrative burden, or a fundamental change to the services. A threat or substantial physical damage must concern the specific animal and must be unable to be reduced or eliminated through another reasonable accommodation. The resident remains responsible for the animal's sanitation and damage. Wis. Stat. 106.50(2r)(bg)3., 4., (br)3., 4.
The lease says the landlord follows federal, state and local fair housing law and lets a tenant, occupant or applicant with a disability ask for a reasonable accommodation or modification.
Required disclosures and lease terms
Before signing a rental agreement or taking earnest money or a deposit, disclose in writing any uncorrected building or housing code violation you actually know of that affects the unit or a common area and is a significant threat to health or safety, and any of the listed habitability problems you know of or could find by reasonable inspection. Also disclose if water, heat or electricity is not included in the rent, and how unmetered charges are split.
Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.04(2) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.04(3) Wis. Stat. § 704.07(2)(bm)
More detail (8)
- The listed habitability problems are: no hot or cold running water; heat that is unsafe or cannot keep living areas at 67 degrees Fahrenheit; no electricity or unsafe wiring; structural or other conditions that are a substantial hazard; and plumbing or sewage disposal not in good operating condition. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.04(2)(b)
- Every residential rental agreement must include the statutory NOTICE OF DOMESTIC ABUSE PROTECTIONS, in the agreement or an addendum. Wis. Stat. § 704.14
- A rental agreement is void and unenforceable if it: lets you retaliate for calls to police, health or safety services; allows eviction other than through the courts; accelerates rent or waives your duty to mitigate; makes the tenant pay your attorney fees or costs; allows confession of judgment; excuses your own negligence; makes the tenant liable for injury or damage beyond the tenant's control; waives your duty to keep the unit habitable; or allows ending a tenancy solely because of a crime in or on the property of which the tenant or someone living with the tenant was the victim. Wis. Stat. § 704.44 Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.08
- Show the prospective tenant the written rental agreement and rules before signing and before taking any deposit, and give the tenant a copy when the agreement is made. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.03(1)
- An automatic renewal clause cannot be enforced against the tenant unless you give separate written notice of it 15 to 30 days before the tenant's deadline to give notice. Wis. Stat. § 704.15 Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(3)
- Terms letting you enter on other conditions, withhold from the deposit for other reasons, or hold the tenant's property must be in a separate NONSTANDARD RENTAL PROVISIONS document you identify with the tenant before signing. Wis. Stat. § 704.28(2) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(2)(c) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(4)(b)
- If you will not store belongings a tenant leaves behind, say so in writing when the tenant signs or renews. Wis. Stat. § 704.05(5)(bf) See Property left behind
- You need not volunteer information about the sex offender registry, but if asked you must disclose what you actually know. Giving timely written notice of how to reach the Department of Corrections registry protects you from liability. Wis. Stat. § 704.50
Flood disclosure
Not set by statuteChapter 704 and the rental practices code do not require a flood disclosure for a rental.
Owner and manager identity
At or before signing, give the tenant in writing the name and address of the person authorized to collect rent and manage the property, and of the owner or other person authorized to accept legal papers for the owner. The service address must be in Wisconsin, where papers can be delivered in person.
Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.04(1)(a)
More detail (3)
- Mail or deliver written notice of any change within 10 business days. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.04(1)(b)
- This does not apply to an owner-occupied building of four or fewer units. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.04(1)(c)
- A landlord who does not live in Wisconsin must designate, in writing filed with the Department of Financial Institutions, an in-state agent to accept service of process for actions about the tenancy. Wis. Stat. § 704.22
An addendum lists the owner or service agent and the manager with their addresses, and says Not disclosed where the landlord has not given an address.
Deposits, rent and fees
Security deposit limit
Not set by statuteNeither chapter 704 nor the rental practices code caps the amount of a security deposit. A security deposit is everything the tenant pays as security for the tenant's obligations, and it includes any rent paid in advance beyond one month's prepaid rent.
Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.02(11) Wis. Stat. § 704.28 Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.06
More detail (4)
- A landlord may not accept a security deposit or earnest money from an applicant until the landlord has identified the unit or units the applicant is being considered for. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.05(1)
- Give a written receipt stating the nature and amount of a deposit as soon as you accept it. A receipt is not required for a check that notes its purpose, unless the tenant asks for one. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.03(2)(a)
- Before you accept a deposit, show the prospective tenant the written rental agreement and any written rules, and make the disclosures the code requires. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.03(1) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.04 See Required disclosures and lease terms
- Cities, villages, towns and counties may not add security deposit or earnest money requirements beyond the state's administrative rules. Wis. Stat. § 66.0104(2)(b)
The Rentari Wisconsin lease states the deposit amount and says Wisconsin does not cap it.
Returning the deposit
Return the deposit, less lawful deductions, within 21 days. The 21 days run from the lease's termination date if the tenant leaves on that date; from the termination date, or a new tenant's start if the unit is rerented sooner, if the tenant leaves or is evicted early; and from the date you learn the tenant has left or been removed by the sheriff if the tenant leaves after the termination date.
Wis. Stat. § 704.28(4) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.06(2)
More detail (7)
- You may withhold only amounts reasonably necessary for tenant damage, waste or neglect; unpaid rent the tenant is legally responsible for; unpaid utility service you provided that is not included in the rent; government utility charges or municipal permit fees you become liable for; and any other reason in a separate NONSTANDARD RENTAL PROVISIONS document. Wis. Stat. § 704.28(1) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.06(3)(a)
- Nothing may be withheld for normal wear and tear, or for damage or losses the tenant cannot reasonably be held responsible for. Wis. Stat. § 704.28(3) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.06(3)(c)
- A nonstandard withholding reason must be in a separate written document titled NONSTANDARD RENTAL PROVISIONS that you specifically identify with the tenant before the lease is signed. A tenant's signature or initials by the provision creates a rebuttable presumption that you did. Wis. Stat. § 704.28(2) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.06(3)(b)
- If you withhold anything, deliver or mail a written statement, within the same 21 days, describing each item of damage or other claim and the amount withheld for it. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.06(4)(a)
- Never intentionally misrepresent or falsify a claim against a deposit, including the cost of repairs, or withhold under a falsified claim. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.06(4)(b)
- A landlord who otherwise complied is not in violation only because the postal service could not deliver the mail. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.06(5)
- A tenant who suffers a monetary loss because a landlord violated these rules can recover twice the loss, with costs and a reasonable attorney fee. Wis. Stat. § 100.20(5)
The lease's deposit clause states the 21-day deadline with all three starting points, the allowed deductions, the wear and tear rule, the written statement of each item withheld, and the double-damages remedy.
Deposit accounts and interest
Not set by statuteChapter 704 and the rental practices code do not require a landlord to pay interest on a security deposit or to keep it in a separate account.
Wis. Stat. § 704.28 Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.06
More detail (1)
- Rent paid in advance beyond one month's prepaid rent is treated as part of the security deposit, so it follows the same return rules. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.02(11) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.06(2)
Move-in condition and check-in
Give every new tenant a check-in sheet when the tenant moves in. The tenant has 7 days from the start of occupancy to fill it in with any comments on the condition of the home and return it. A renewal does not need a new sheet.
More detail (4)
- Before you accept a security deposit, tell the tenant in writing that, by a stated date at least 7 days after the tenancy starts, the tenant may inspect the unit and report preexisting damage or defects, and may ask for the list of damages charged to the previous tenant's deposit. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.06(1)(a)
- If the tenant asks for that list, provide it within 30 days after the request or within 7 days after you notify the previous tenant of deductions, whichever is later. You need not name the previous tenant or give the amounts withheld. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.06(1)(b)
- Any promise to clean, repair or improve the unit must state the date or period for the work, and promises made before the first rental agreement must be in writing with a copy to the tenant. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.07(1) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.07(2) See Repairs and habitability
- Make the check-in sheet useful by identifying the unit and date, noting existing damage room by room and keeping photographs with the returned comments. Record repair promises and their due dates separately, then retain the completed sheet and later correspondence together. This practical file helps distinguish preexisting conditions from a later claim; it does not replace the tenant's statutory check-in rights. Wis. Stat. § 704.08 Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.07(1)
The lease carries the check-in notice (the two rights, exercisable by a date at least 7 days after the tenancy starts) and says the landlord will give a check-in sheet at move-in. Rentari does not produce the check-in sheet itself; you provide it.
Rent and late fees
Charge a late fee only if the rental agreement specifically provides for it. Before charging one, apply any rent the tenant has prepaid to the rent owed, and never charge a fee for not paying a late fee.
Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(8)
More detail (4)
- Chapter 704 and the rental practices code set no maximum late fee and no grace period. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(8)
- For a nonpayment notice, rent includes past-due rent and any late fees owed on past-due rent. Wis. Stat. § 704.17(1g) See Notice for unpaid rent
- When you state a rent amount to induce someone to rent, you may not misrepresent the rent or other charges, and you must disclose any non-rent charges that will raise the total the tenant pays. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(9)(a)
- If a tenant pays rent in cash, give a written receipt stating the nature and amount of the payment. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.03(2)(b)
The lease's late charge clause states the fee the landlord sets and the day it applies, says no Wisconsin statute or rule caps it, and repeats the prepayment and no-fee-on-a-fee rules.
Returned payment fee
Partly readNeither chapter 704 nor the rental practices code sets a fee for a returned check or payment. When you quote the rent to induce someone to rent, do not misrepresent any non-rent charge, such as a returned-payment fee.
Wis. Stat. § 704.17 Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(9)(a)
More detail (1)
- Separately, a person who loses money on a worthless check may sue a writer who knew or should have known the check was worthless for the check, actual damages, and exemplary damages and attorney fees capped together at $500 per violation, after mailing notice of intent to sue at least 20 days before filing. The writer is not liable if the check is paid before the suit. Wis. Stat. § 943.245(1m) Wis. Stat. § 943.245(2) Wis. Stat. § 943.245(3) Wis. Stat. § 943.245(4)
The lease prints a returned-payment fee only when the landlord sets one.
Rent increase notice
Not set by statuteChapter 704 and the rental practices code set no notice period for a rent increase. To end a month-to-month tenancy, either side must give at least 28 days' written notice ending at the end of a rental period.
More detail (4)
- No city, village, town or county may regulate the amount of rent or fees for a residential rental unit. Wis. Stat. § 66.1015(1) See Rent control and local rules
- A rent increase that would not happen but for retaliation against a tenant's protected complaint or legal right is prohibited. Wis. Stat. § 704.45(1) See Retaliation
- A rental agreement that lets a landlord raise rent because a tenant contacted police, health or safety services is void. Wis. Stat. § 704.44(1m)
- Keep routine rent-change messages separate from Chapter 704 termination notices. For termination, section 704.19(7) counts registered or certified mail on the second day after mailing within Wisconsin and the fifth day elsewhere; paired leaving or posting and mailing counts from the later act. Section 704.21(5) can recognize actual receipt outside the listed methods, but the sender must prove it by clear and convincing evidence. An agreed software channel alone does not establish that proof or convert termination rules into a rent-increase notice period. Wis. Stat. 704.19(7) Wis. Stat. 704.21(5)
During the tenancy
Landlord entry
Enter a rented unit only to inspect it, make repairs or show it to prospective tenants or buyers, at reasonable times, and with at least 12 hours' advance notice unless the tenant, told of the proposed entry, agrees to a shorter time.
Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(2)(a) Wis. Stat. § 704.05(2)
More detail (5)
- No advance notice is needed if the tenant, knowing the time, asked for or agreed to the entry in advance; in a health or safety emergency; or when the tenant is absent and you reasonably believe entry is needed to protect the premises from damage. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(2)(b)
- Announce yourself before entering, for example by knocking, and identify yourself if asked. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(2)(d)
- Stay only as long as reasonably required for the inspection, repair or showing. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(2)(a)
- Entry on other terms is allowed only through a separate NONSTANDARD RENTAL PROVISIONS document that you identify and discuss with the tenant before the lease is signed. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(2)(c)
- A lease may allow advance notice of entry to be given electronically. Wis. Stat. § 704.10(4)
The lease's entry clause states the three purposes, at least 12 hours' notice (or a longer period the landlord sets), the three exceptions, and the duty to announce and identify.
Repairs and habitability
Except for damage the tenant caused by negligence or misuse, a landlord must keep the parts of the premises it controls in reasonable repair, keep in repair the equipment for services it agreed to supply (such as heat, water or elevators), make all necessary structural repairs, and comply with any local housing code. Where no local housing code applies, the landlord also repairs or replaces plumbing, wiring, machinery and equipment it furnished that no longer work.
More detail (6)
- These duties apply to every residential tenancy, and any agreement to waive them, including one in a lease, is void. Wis. Stat. § 704.07(1)
- The tenant must pay for damage, including pest infestation, that the tenant's acts or inaction cause, and must comply with any local housing code. Where no local housing code applies, the tenant also keeps furnished equipment in working order when the repair cost is minor compared with the rent. Wis. Stat. § 704.07(3)
- A promise to clean, repair or improve must give a completion date or period and must be kept unless delayed by causes beyond your control, in which case tell the tenant why and when the work will be done. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.07
- Do not rent or advertise a unit that has been placarded as unfit or is under a condemnation, raze or rehabilitation order until the required repairs are complete. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(1)
- Before a new tenant moves in, set a water heater that serves only that unit no higher than 125 degrees Fahrenheit, or at its minimum setting if that is higher. Wis. Stat. § 704.06
- A rental agreement that waives the landlord's duty to deliver a fit, habitable unit or to maintain it is void. Wis. Stat. § 704.44(8)
The lease's repairs clause restates the landlord's duties from the statute and says any agreement to waive them is void.
Tenant repair remedies
If the unit becomes untenantable from fire, water or other casualty, or from a condition hazardous to health, or if the landlord's failure to repair materially affects health or safety, the tenant may move out unless the landlord promptly fixes the problem. A tenant who stays may pay reduced rent to the extent the tenant loses full use of the unit, but may not withhold rent in full.
More detail (4)
- A tenant who justifiably moves out owes no rent after the unit became untenantable, and you must refund rent paid in advance for that period. Wis. Stat. § 704.07(4)
- These remedies do not apply when the tenant's negligence or misuse caused the condition. Wis. Stat. § 704.07(4)
- Chapter 704 gives tenants no right to make repairs and deduct the cost from rent. Wis. Stat. § 704.07
- Local ordinances may allow rent abatement only for conditions that materially affect health or safety or substantially affect use of the unit. Wis. Stat. § 704.07(5)
The lease's repairs clause states the move-out and partial rent reduction remedies, bars full withholding, and says no Wisconsin statute gives a repair and deduct right.
Locks and security devices
Not set by statuteChapter 704 and the rental practices code do not require a landlord to rekey or change locks between tenants.
More detail (3)
- A tenant who gives you a certified copy of a qualifying injunction, no-contact order or criminal complaint may ask you to change the locks. Change them, or let the tenant change them, within 48 hours. The tenant pays the cost and, if the tenant changes them, gives you a key within a reasonable time. Wis. Stat. § 704.16(4)(a) Wis. Stat. § 704.16(4)(b)
- If the person named in the document is also a tenant of the unit, you need not change the locks unless the document orders that person to avoid the residence or not to contact the requesting tenant. Wis. Stat. § 704.16(4)(c)
- You are not liable for civil damages for acting to comply with a lock change request. Wis. Stat. § 704.16(4)(d)
The lease states the 48-hour lock change rule, that the tenant pays for it, and the rule for a co-tenant named in the order.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
The owner must install working smoke detectors: in apartment and other residential buildings, in the basement, at the head of each stairway on each floor, and in or within 6 feet of each sleeping area; in one and two unit homes, in the basement and on each floor level of each unit except the attic or storage area.
Wis. Stat. § 101.145(4) Wis. Stat. § 101.645(3)
More detail (4)
- The occupant maintains the detectors in the unit, but once a tenant gives written notice that one does not work, the owner must make it work within 5 days. Wis. Stat. § 101.145(3)(c) Wis. Stat. § 101.645(3)
- In a one or two unit home with an attached garage, a fireplace or a fuel-burning appliance, the owner must install carbon monoxide detectors in the basement and on each floor level except the attic, garage or storage area, and fix one within 5 days of written notice that it does not work. Wis. Stat. § 101.647(3)
- In larger residential buildings, units with fuel-burning appliances, fuel-burning forced-air furnaces or attached garages need carbon monoxide detectors, subject to listed exceptions, which the owner maintains and must repair or replace within 5 days of a tenant's written notice. Wis. Stat. § 101.149(2) Wis. Stat. § 101.149(3)
- No one may tamper with, disconnect or remove the batteries from an installed carbon monoxide detector. Wis. Stat. § 101.149(4) Wis. Stat. § 101.647(6)
The lease says the landlord provides working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at move-in and the tenant may not disable them.
Retaliation
A landlord may not raise rent, cut services, sue for possession, refuse to renew, or threaten any of these when the evidence shows the action would not happen but for retaliation against a tenant for a good faith complaint about a defect to an elected official or housing code agency, a complaint to the landlord about repairs or code violations, or exercising a legal right as a tenant.
More detail (4)
- You may still sue for possession when the tenant has not paid rent, other than a prohibited rent increase. Wis. Stat. § 704.45(2)
- The protection does not cover complaints about defects the tenant caused by negligence or misuse. Wis. Stat. § 704.45(3)
- The rental practices code also bars ending a tenancy, blocking an automatic renewal, or forcing a tenant out, including by cutting heat, water or electricity, in retaliation for reporting violations, joining or organizing a tenants' union, or asserting a legal right. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(5)
- A rental agreement that allows retaliation for contacting police, health or safety services is void. Wis. Stat. § 704.44(1m) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.08(1)
The lease's retaliation clause restates the statute and the code rule, including the unpaid rent exception.
Lockouts and utility shutoffs
A landlord may not lock out, forcibly evict or force out a tenant by any means other than a court eviction. A rental agreement that allows eviction or exclusion outside the courts is void.
Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(7) Wis. Stat. § 704.44(2m)
More detail (3)
- Cutting off or substantially reducing heat, water or electricity to retaliate against a tenant is prohibited. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(5)
- Deliver possession on the agreed move-in date unless circumstances beyond your control prevent it. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(6)
- A landlord has no lien on a tenant's belongings and may not seize or hold them except as statutes allow or under a signed agreement in a separate NONSTANDARD RENTAL PROVISION document made with the first rental agreement. Wis. Stat. § 704.11 Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.09(4)
The lease's keys clause says nothing in it lets the landlord change locks or exclude the tenant except through the courts.
Ending a tenancy
Ending a month-to-month tenancy
Either side may end a month-to-month tenancy with at least 28 days' written notice, and the termination date must be the end of a rental period. If rent is paid more often than monthly, notice at least as long as the rent period is enough.
Wis. Stat. § 704.19(2)(b) Wis. Stat. § 704.19(3)
More detail (6)
- The notice must be in writing and substantially tell the other side of the intent to end the tenancy and the termination date. Errors that do not mislead do not make it invalid. Wis. Stat. § 704.19(4)
- A notice naming a date that is too early or not at the end of a rental period is still valid, but takes effect on the first date that could properly have been named. Wis. Stat. § 704.19(5)
- The day the notice is given counts as day one. A notice sent by registered or certified mail to a Wisconsin address counts as given on the second day after mailing. Wis. Stat. § 704.19(7)
- If a periodic tenant leaves without notice and does not pay rent, the tenancy ends on the first date it could have ended had you received proper notice on the day you learned of the move. Wis. Stat. § 704.19(6)
- When a residential lease expires and the tenant stays, you may choose to hold the tenant month to month on the old lease terms, and accepting rent for a period after expiration counts as that choice unless you already started eviction. The lease may provide otherwise. Wis. Stat. § 704.25(2) Wis. Stat. § 704.25(3) Wis. Stat. § 704.25(4)
- A tenant who stays without your consent after the tenancy ends owes at least twice the daily rental value for each day of holding over, unless you prove greater damages. Wis. Stat. § 704.27
The lease's termination clause states the 28-day written notice ending at the end of a rental period.
Ending a lease early
A tenant who leaves early still owes rent, but the landlord must make reasonable efforts to rerent, and what the landlord recovers is reduced by the net rent those efforts could bring in. A lease clause that accelerates rent on default or waives this duty to mitigate makes the whole rental agreement void.
Wis. Stat. § 704.29 Wis. Stat. § 704.44(3m)
More detail (6)
- You must show that you tried to rerent; the tenant must prove your efforts were unreasonable. You may also recover reasonable listing and advertising costs. Wis. Stat. § 704.29(2)(b) Wis. Stat. § 704.29(3)
- A tenant may end the tenancy by notice with a certified copy of a qualifying injunction, no-contact order or criminal complaint when the tenant or the tenant's child faces an imminent threat of serious physical harm, or based on sexual assault. The tenant owes no rent after the end of the month following the month of the notice or move-out, whichever is later, subject to your duty to mitigate. Wis. Stat. § 704.16(1) Wis. Stat. § 704.16(1m) Wis. Stat. § 704.16(2) Wis. Stat. § 704.16(2m)
- When a tenant dies, the tenancy ends 60 days after you learn of the death or at the end of the lease term, whichever is earlier. You may not contact the family to collect rent they do not owe. Wis. Stat. § 704.165
- A member of the Wisconsin National Guard or state defense force ordered into state active duty for 30 days or more after signing the lease may end it by written notice delivered personally or by first class mail. Wis. Stat. § 321.62(14)
- An agreement to end a written lease more than one year before its expiration date must be in writing and signed by both sides. Wis. Stat. § 704.03(4)
- Keep an early move-out file with the notice, key-return date, condition photos, listing dates, showing records, advertising receipts and any replacement tenancy start date. Use a separate account of rent claimed, payments and re-rental credits so the balance can be explained. If both sides agree to a release, put its end date, remaining amounts and the people released in a signed agreement; do not assume that discussing a replacement tenant settles every obligation. These records help explain the mitigation and agreement rules above. Wisconsin DATCP: tenants’ rights and responsibilities
The lease states the victim termination and lock change rules, the death of a tenant rule, and the federal and state military termination rights.
Notice for unpaid rent
Under a lease of one year or less, a year-to-year tenancy, or a month-to-month or week-to-week tenancy, a landlord may give a written notice to pay the rent or move out by a date at least 5 days after the notice is given. Under a lease of more than one year, the notice must give at least 30 days to pay.
Wis. Stat. § 704.17(1p)(a) Wis. Stat. § 704.17(2)(a) Wis. Stat. § 704.17(3)(a)
More detail (6)
- A month-to-month tenancy can also be ended, while the tenant is behind on rent, by a notice to vacate at least 14 days later, with no right to pay and stay. Wis. Stat. § 704.17(1p)(a)
- Under a lease of one year or less or a year-to-year tenancy, if the tenant is late again within one year after an earlier notice for unpaid rent, you may give a 14-day notice to vacate with no right to pay. Wis. Stat. § 704.17(2)(a)
- Rent in these notices includes past-due rent and late fees owed on past-due rent. Wis. Stat. § 704.17(1g)
- A notice stating the wrong amount is still valid unless the error was intentional or the tenant paid or offered what the tenant believed was due. Wis. Stat. § 704.17(4m)
- The notice must be in writing and served in a way the statute allows: personal delivery, leaving it with a family member 14 or older, leaving it with a person in charge plus mailing, posting plus mailing when those fail, registered or certified mail, or service like a summons. Wis. Stat. § 704.17(4) Wis. Stat. § 704.21(1)
- Lease terms for ending a tenancy that differ from these rules are invalid, except in a lease of more than one year. Wis. Stat. § 704.17(5)(a)
The lease's termination clause states the 5-day, 14-day and 30-day rules and says rent includes late fees owed on past-due rent. Rentari's pay-or-quit notice starts at 5 days; for a lease of more than one year, enter 30 days.
Notice for other lease violations
For waste, a material breach of the tenant's repair duties, or a breach of another lease term, a landlord may give written notice to fix the problem or move out by a date at least 5 days later. Under a lease of more than one year, the notice must allow at least 30 days to comply.
Wis. Stat. § 704.17(1p)(b) Wis. Stat. § 704.17(2)(b) Wis. Stat. § 704.17(3)(a)
More detail (6)
- A tenant complies by promptly taking reasonable steps to fix the problem and proceeding diligently, or, if money damages fully protect you, by making a good faith offer to pay them. Wis. Stat. § 704.17(2)(b)
- A repeat breach within one year of the first notice allows a 14-day notice to vacate with no right to cure. A month-to-month tenancy may also be ended for a breach by a 14-day notice to vacate. Wis. Stat. § 704.17(1p)(b) Wis. Stat. § 704.17(2)(b)
- If the tenant, a household member or a guest engages in criminal activity that threatens the health, safety or peaceful enjoyment of other tenants, neighbors, the landlord or staff, or in drug-related criminal activity on or near the premises, you may end the tenancy on at least 5 days' notice with no chance to cure. The notice must describe the activity, date and people involved and tell the tenant of the right to contest it and to seek legal help. This does not apply to a tenant who is the victim of the crime. Wis. Stat. § 704.17(3m)
- After written notice from police or the district attorney that a nuisance under the state nuisance statute exists in the unit or was caused by the tenant on the property, the owner may give a 5-day notice to vacate stating the basis and the tenant's right to contest. Wis. Stat. § 704.17(1p)(c) Wis. Stat. § 704.17(2)(c) Wis. Stat. § 704.17(3)(b)
- A tenant whose threats or acts put another tenant or that tenant's child at imminent risk of serious physical harm, and who is named in a qualifying injunction, no-contact order or criminal complaint, may be given a 5-day notice to vacate. Wis. Stat. § 704.16(3)
- A lease that lets you end a tenancy for a crime committed in relation to the property must include the statutory notice of domestic abuse protections, or the whole rental agreement is void. Wis. Stat. § 704.44(10) Wis. Stat. § 704.14 See Required disclosures and lease terms
The lease's termination clause states the 5-day cure, the 30-day rule for longer leases, the 14-day repeat rule and the 5-day criminal activity rule with the victim exception, and it prints the domestic abuse notice word for word.
Eviction process
Evictions are filed in circuit court under the small claims procedure, whatever the amount of rent claimed. For a summons served on a Wisconsin resident, the return date is 5 to 25 days after issuance and service must occur at least 5 days before that date. A summons served on a nonresident has a return date at least 20 days after issuance.
Wis. Stat. § 799.01(1)(a) Wis. Stat. § 799.05(3)(b), (c)
More detail (11)
- The written complaint must identify the parties and the property and state the facts that allow removal; you may join claims for unpaid rent and damages. Wis. Stat. § 799.41 Wis. Stat. § 799.40(2)
- A notice ending the tenancy sent by certified mail is proven by the post office's proof of certified mailing. Wis. Stat. § 799.40(1g)
- Accepting past-due rent after the notice or filing does not require the case to be dismissed. Wis. Stat. § 799.40(1m)
- The court must pause the case, for up to 10 working days, if the tenant applies for emergency assistance before a writ is issued. Wis. Stat. § 799.40(4)(a)
- If you win, the court orders a writ of restitution. On hardship, the court may delay the writ up to 30 days if the tenant pays the rent due and the value of occupancy during the delay. A writ received by the sheriff more than 30 days after issuance may not be executed. Wis. Stat. § 799.44
- The sheriff executes the writ, removing the tenant, within 10 days after receiving it. Wis. Stat. § 799.45
- If the domestic abuse notice is missing, a lease that allows ending a tenancy for a crime related to the property is void. Wis. Stat. § 704.44(10) Wis. Stat. § 704.14
- Under section 799.06(1), pleadings after the initial complaint may be oral. A circuit court may adopt a rule requiring written pleadings, and a judge or circuit court commissioner may require them in an individual case. Follow the actual summons and court directions when deciding what to file and when to appear. Wis. Stat. section 799.06(1) Wis. Stat. section 799.05
- Section 799.445 sets a 15-day appeal period after entry of an eviction judgment or appealable order. It separately addresses orders for restitution or denial of restitution and orders on additional causes of action; a later decision on a money claim does not replace the stated deadline for the possession order. Incorporated appellate provisions and case-specific deadline calculations require separate review. Wis. Stat. section 799.445
- A tenant's appeal does not stay possession enforcement by itself. Section 799.445 requires an undertaking served and filed with the notice of appeal, in an amount and with surety approved by the judge, covering appeal costs, compliance with the appellate order, and rent and other damages during appeal. Serving the notice and approved undertaking on a sheriff holding an unexecuted writ stops further enforcement pending appeal. Failure to pay rent or another undertaking default ends the stay and requires execution. Wis. Stat. section 799.445
- Writ execution requires payment of the sheriff's statutory fee. Unless the landlord elects to handle belongings under section 799.45(3m), the sheriff may also require a reasonable deposit for expected removal and deputy costs; the court resolves a dispute over that deposit. The amount depends on the incorporated fee provisions, which were not freshly reviewed here. Wis. Stat. section 799.45(1)
The lease says an eviction is brought under Wisconsin's small claims chapter.
Property left behind
Partly readIf a tenant moves out or is evicted and leaves belongings, the landlord may presume them abandoned and dispose of them as it sees fit, unless a written agreement says otherwise, but only if the landlord gave the tenant written notice, when the lease was signed or renewed, that it will not store items left behind.
Wis. Stat. § 704.05(5)(a) Wis. Stat. § 704.05(5)(bf)
More detail (6)
- Hold prescription medication and prescription medical equipment for 7 days after you find it, and return it promptly if asked before you dispose of it. Wis. Stat. § 704.05(5)(am)
- Before disposing of a manufactured home, mobile home or titled vehicle, give notice of your intent to the tenant and any secured party you know of, personally or by mail. Wis. Stat. § 704.05(5)(b)
- The tenant or a secured party may redeem property before you dispose of it by paying your expenses. If you sell it, the statute lets you send the proceeds, minus sale and any storage costs, to the state Department of Administration. Wis. Stat. § 704.05(5)(a) Wis. Stat. § 704.05(5)(c)
- Without the no-storage notice, a different, older version of the statute governs what you must do with the property. That older text was not read for this page. Wis. Stat. § 704.05(5)(bf)
- After an eviction, you may tell the sheriff that you will remove and store or dispose of the property yourself under these rules; otherwise the sheriff removes it. Wis. Stat. § 799.45(3m)
- If the sheriff handles belongings under section 799.45(3), goods ordinarily go to safekeeping within the county. Within three days after removal, the sheriff mails notice of the location and supplies documents needed to retrieve them; later storage charges are the tenant's responsibility. The sheriff may instead send property determined with ordinary care to have no monetary value to an appropriate refuse facility, with notice within three days. This sheriff procedure is separate from the landlord's section 704.05 duties and the lease's no-storage notice. Wis. Stat. section 799.45(2)-(4)
The lease's abandonment clause says property left behind will be handled as the law requires. It does not include the written notice that the landlord will not store items.
Small claims court
Small claims covers most money claims of $10,000 or less, including deposit disputes, and every eviction regardless of the rent claimed. From January 1, 2027, the money limit is $15,000.
Wis. Stat. § 799.01(1)(d) Wis. Stat. § 799.01(1)(a)
More detail (2)
- Personal injury and other tort claims use small claims only up to $5,000. Wis. Stat. § 799.01(1)(cr)
- Outside evictions, the return date on a summons for a Wisconsin resident is 8 to 30 days after issue. Wis. Stat. § 799.05(3)(b)
The lease says any action under it is brought in the circuit court of the county where the home is located.
More Wisconsin rules
Unauthorized occupants and adverse possession
Adverse possession is a claim to title with specific occupation and time requirements. Wisconsin provides a 20-year route without a written instrument, a 10-year route based on a good-faith recorded instrument or judgment, and a 7-year route with additional recording and tax requirements. Living in or improving a vacant property alone does not settle ownership. A claim to title and an action to recover possession raise different questions.
Wis. Stat. section 893.25 Wis. Stat. section 893.26 Wis. Stat. section 893.27
More detail (6)
- The 20-year route requires actual continued occupation under a claim of title, exclusive of other rights, by the claimant in connection with qualifying predecessors. It reaches only land actually occupied and protected by a substantial enclosure or usually cultivated or improved. Wis. Stat. section 893.25
- The 10-year route requires original entry under a good-faith claim based on a written conveyance instrument or competent-court judgment, recorded with the county register of deeds within 30 days of entry. Continued occupation must cover all or a material part of the described property. Possessing one lot does not establish possession of every lot in a tract; the good-faith presumption can be rebutted. Wis. Stat. section 893.26
- The 7-year route incorporates the 10-year route's possession requirements. It also requires recording each conveyance of the interest within 30 days after execution and paying all real-estate taxes, or required payments in lieu, for the seven years after original entry. A document that merely appears to convey title and some tax payments do not by themselves establish this route. Wis. Stat. section 893.27 Wis. Stat. section 893.26
- Government land and claims by local government have separate restrictions under section 893.29, with historical start-date rules and protection for certain titles obtained on or before March 3, 2016. Apply the relevant dates and ownership category when evaluating a historical claim. Wis. Stat. section 893.29
- Section 893.14 has separate rules for computing and tolling the period when a claim is asserted as a defense or counterclaim, including a possible minimum 30-day period after final disposition. A stated 7-, 10- or 20-year period is not a complete case-specific deadline calculation. Wis. Stat. section 893.14
- Section 799.40 permits a person entitled to possession, or an agent authorized in writing, to bring a civil eviction action against a person not entitled to possession or occupancy, subject to its stated exceptions. Identify the actual lease, permission and title facts and use the applicable court procedure. Calling an occupant a squatter does not decide those facts. Wis. Stat. section 799.40(1)-(3) See Eviction process
Preparing your first Wisconsin rental
Prepare the home and disclosures before signing or taking money. Build a realistic budget, use lawful application and lease terms, then set up the check-in record, payments and repair process. Follow the detailed guide topics for the conditions and deadlines behind each step.
Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.04(2) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.04(3) Wis. Stat. § 704.07(2)(bm)
More detail (4)
- Compare similar homes and note what the asking rent includes. List taxes, insurance, utilities you pay, repairs, turnover and vacancy in a property budget, with a reserve for unexpected work. Check the address’s zoning, rental registration, inspection and safety requirements. Complete repairs and review known code or habitability problems before offering the home. Wis. Stat. § 704.07(2) See Repairs and habitability
- Before signing or accepting earnest money or a deposit, prepare the required written condition and utility disclosures. Have the owner and management contacts ready. Review the lease’s domestic-abuse notice, prohibited clauses and any nonstandard rental provisions rather than relying on a generic form or treating every proposed clause as enforceable. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.04(2) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.04(3) Wis. Stat. § 704.07(2)(bm) See Required disclosures and lease terms
- Use consistent lawful screening criteria and review the separate rules for credit-report costs, background checks and earnest money before collecting charges. Keep the required report copies, receipts and decision notices. Confirm the agreed rent, deposits, utilities, dates, payment arrangements and entry procedure in the rental documents. Wis. Stat. § 704.085(1)(a) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.05(4)(a) See Application and screening fees
- Give the new tenant the check-in sheet and explain the return process. Keep dated condition photos and track the returned sheet. Explain how to pay rent and report ordinary repairs or urgent problems. Store the ledger, receipts, communications, notices and maintenance history together with appropriate access limits, and calendar lease events and deadlines. Wis. Stat. § 704.08 See Move-in condition and check-in
Local rules
Rent control and local rules
Wisconsin bars cities, villages, towns and counties from regulating the amount of rent or fees for residential rental units.
More detail (4)
- State law also bars local ordinances that limit tenant screening, add security deposit or inspection requirements beyond the state rules, limit a tenant's responsibility for damage, or require landlords to give tenants information that state or federal law does not require. Wis. Stat. § 66.0104(2)
- Local rental inspection and registration programs are allowed only within the limits and fee caps the state sets. Wis. Stat. § 66.0104(2)(e)
- Local ordinances that do not directly conflict with the rental practices code still apply, and following one does not excuse compliance with the code. Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.10
- The restriction on local rent control preserves certain agreements. A city, village, town, county, housing authority or the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority may agree on rent or fees for a unit it owns or operates, or enter an agreement with a private person who regulates rent or fees. Check whether such an agreement governs the property before treating the general restriction as the only applicable rule. Wis. Stat. 66.1015(2)
Cities, including Madison and Milwaukee, may have housing and building codes that add duties for rental property within the limits state law allows. Their codes were not read for this page; check the code of the city where the property is located.
Local codes can add duties, but state law bars local rent control and limits local rules on screening, deposits, inspections and required notices. No local code was read for this page.
Wisconsin landlord questions
Is there a limit on security deposits in Wisconsin?
No. Chapter 704 and the rental practices code set no maximum. Rent paid in advance beyond one month counts as part of the deposit, and the refund, less lawful deductions, is due within 21 days.
Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.02(11) Wis. Stat. § 704.28(4)
When does the 21-day deposit deadline start?
On the lease's termination date if the tenant leaves then. If the tenant leaves early, on the termination date or a new tenant's start date if you rerent sooner. If the tenant stays past the termination date, on the day you learn the tenant has left or been removed.
Wis. Stat. § 704.28(4) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.06(2)
Can I deduct carpet cleaning or painting from the deposit?
Not for normal wear and tear. You may deduct only for tenant damage, waste or neglect, unpaid rent, certain unpaid utilities and permit fees, and reasons listed in a separate NONSTANDARD RENTAL PROVISIONS document the tenant was shown before signing.
Wis. Stat. § 704.28(1) Wis. Stat. § 704.28(3) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.06(3)
What can I charge a rental applicant?
Only the actual cost of a credit report from a nationwide agency, up to $25, after telling the applicant about the charge, and you must give the applicant a copy. You cannot charge if the applicant gives you a nationwide report less than 30 days old. A background check fee, up to $25, is allowed only for a nonresident applicant.
How much notice do I need to enter the unit?
At least 12 hours, at a reasonable time, to inspect, repair or show the unit, unless the tenant agrees to less. You need no notice if the tenant asked for the visit, in an emergency, or if the tenant is away and entry is needed to protect the property.
Is there a cap on late fees in Wisconsin?
Chapter 704 and the rental practices code set no cap. A late fee must be specifically provided for in the rental agreement, prepaid rent must be applied first, and you cannot charge a fee for an unpaid late fee.
How do I end a tenancy for unpaid rent?
Serve a written notice to pay or vacate that gives at least 5 days, or at least 30 days under a lease of more than one year. For a month-to-month tenant in default you may instead give 14 days' notice to vacate, and a repeat late payment within a year under a shorter lease allows a 14-day notice with no right to pay.
Can a lease clause make the whole Wisconsin lease void?
Yes. A rental agreement is void if it requires the tenant to pay your attorney fees, excuses your own negligence, accelerates rent, allows self-help eviction or confession of judgment, waives habitability, penalizes calls to police or emergency services, or allows ending a tenancy over a crime without the domestic abuse notice.
Do I have to include a domestic abuse notice in the lease?
Yes. Every residential rental agreement must include the statutory NOTICE OF DOMESTIC ABUSE PROTECTIONS in the agreement or an addendum.
Can a Wisconsin tenant withhold rent for repairs?
Not in full. If a problem materially affects health or safety or substantially affects use of the unit, rent is reduced to the extent the tenant loses normal use, and the tenant may move out if you do not promptly fix a serious problem. Chapter 704 gives no repair and deduct right.
Can a Wisconsin city impose rent control?
No. State law bars cities, villages, towns and counties from regulating the amount of rent or fees for residential rental units. The law preserves specified public-body and private-owner rent agreements; check the qualification under Rent control and local rules.
What happens to belongings a tenant leaves behind?
If you gave written notice at signing or renewal that you will not store them, you may treat them as abandoned and dispose of them, except prescription medication and medical equipment, which you hold for 7 days. Manufactured homes, mobile homes and titled vehicles need notice first.
What is the small claims limit in Wisconsin?
$10,000 for most money claims, rising to $15,000 on January 1, 2027. Evictions go through small claims regardless of the rent claimed.
What should a Wisconsin lease say about shared utilities?
Before signing or taking earnest money or a deposit, disclose whether water, heat or electricity is excluded from rent and how unmetered charges are divided. For clarity, identify each service, the account holder, the payer and the allocation method. Keep the disclosed method with the agreement so both sides can understand a later bill.
Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.04(2) Wis. Admin. Code § ATCP 134.04(3)
Statutes read for this page
- Wisconsin Statutes chapter 704, Landlord and TenantRead in full
- Wisconsin Administrative Code ATCP 134, Residential Rental PracticesRead in full (134.01 to 134.10)
- Wisconsin Statutes chapter 799, Small Claims and Evictions10 sections (799.01, 799.05, 799.12, 799.40 to 799.45)
- Wis. Stat. 100.20, Methods of competition and trade practices1 section
- Wis. Stat. 66.0104 and 66.1015, local limits and rent control2 sections
- Wis. Stat. 101.145, 101.149, 101.61, 101.645, 101.647, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors5 sections
- Wis. Stat. 106.50, Open housingSubsections (1), (1m) and (2)
- Wis. Stat. 321.62, Service members civil relief; state active duty1 section
- Wis. Stat. 943.24 and 943.245, worthless checks2 sections
- Selected Wisconsin rent and notice provisionsFull current sections 704.19, 704.21, 704.45 and 66.1015, plus ATCP 134.09 and 134.10, read October 15, 2026 for the selected notice and agreement qualifications. No full chapter, local code or case decision review.
- Selected credit-check and disability animal rulesFull 704.085(1)-(2) and 106.50(2r)(b), (bg), (br), (c), with relevant emotional-support/health-professional definitions, read October 15, 2026 in official HTML. Publication footer updated through Act 247 and orders in effect October 1, 2026. Full exemptions/remedies, incorporated construction standards, ATCP rules, local and federal law not freshly reviewed.
- Selected adverse-possession and civil possession statutesSelected follow-up October 15, 2026: complete official893.14,893.25,893.26,893.27,893.29 and799.40 operative text, histories and displayed notes/annotations read. Publication states2023-24 Wisconsin Statutes updated through2025Wis.Act247 and orders effectiveOctober1,2026, publishedOctober1. Underlying annotated cases were not independently opened. Added only selected adverse-possession routes, government-land/timing qualifications and civil possession distinction. Chapter841 title-action procedure, remaining chapter893, criminal trespass statutes, wider court/local rules and cases were not freshly reviewed. Broader September24 checked_on retained.
- Selected summons, appeal and sheriff execution provisionsSelected follow-up October 15, 2026: complete sections 799.05, 799.44, 799.445 and 799.45, including both summons forms, histories and displayed notes, plus the complete operative subsection 799.06(1), read. Publication states 2023-24 Wisconsin Statutes updated through 2025 Wis. Act 247 and orders effective October 1, 2026, published October 1. Added only summons/pleading, appeal/stay and writ/property qualifications. The remaining 799.06, incorporated appeal/security/service statutes, underlying annotated cases, wider court rules and local law were not freshly reviewed. Broader September 24 checked_on retained.
Not read for this page (9)
- The older version of the abandoned property statute that applies when a landlord has not given the written no-storage notice.
- Wisconsin open housing provisions beyond the selected disability rules, including full exemptions, defenses and remedies.
- Federal law: the lead-based paint disclosure, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act and the federal Fair Housing Act.
- Other Wisconsin statutes that may govern a fee for a returned rent payment.
- The state nuisance statute that a police or district attorney nuisance notice relies on.
- City and county codes, including those of Madison and Milwaukee.
- The state building code rules for smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and the rules for manufactured home communities.
- The title-action procedure in chapter841, the remaining real-property limitation provisions and criminal trespass laws beyond the selected adverse-possession statutes.
- Court procedure beyond the selected eviction provisions, including incorporated appellate and sheriff-fee rules.